It can be a thankless task being a TV actor in the US. It’s not about the hours, the pay or even the indignity of being spliced up by commercial breaks every 2.8 minutes, but rather the cold, hard truth that you might (and in all probability will) find your show cancelled without warning before it even has the chance to find an audience.

Of the thirty-odd new shows that are set adrift on American airwaves each year, the vast majority die horrible, lingering deaths - their contracts burned, their casts fired and their remaining episodes bumped to the graveyard shift or, worse, chucked on the network website. As an actor, it must make this particular line of work the closest thing to extreme employment – a sort of adrenaline sport for the jobbing thespian – where you wake up each morning not knowing whether this will be the day you go back to waiting tables, boosting cars, turning tricks or whatever your day job was before you stumbled into that casting office. It’s an equally miserable experience for viewers as well. After all, if you begin each year knowing that maybe 70 percent of the shows you’ve begun to form a bond with will never reach a conclusion, then it can’t be too long before the sense of disappointment and betrayal makes you jaded, bitter and one spilled latte away from a spree killing - which is when you get a job as a film reviewer.

The whole affair is even more frustrating when you begin to realise that the choice of what lives and what dies in no way relates to the level of quality. Now, I’m not naïve about the commercial realities of running a TV network and the fact that Celebrity Love Island does and always will bring in more viewers than Deadwood says more about the general public than the evils of network television – which is an entire blog in itself -, But wouldn’t it be life-affirming if, just once, we could see a show succeed simply because it’s good? Because it’s fresh, it’s brave, it’s thoughtful and not just another formulaic clone (how many CSI rip-offs is that now?) trying to make bovine audiences graze in its derivative pastures.

A prime example is Aaron Sorkin’s Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, which was, in my humble opinion, the smartest and best-written show since… well, since his last one. It never stood a chance. An insider’s look at the television industry, audiences weren’t sure what to make of it at first but, just as they began to show an interest, the network put it on hiatus and replaced it with The Black Donnellys (which, I might add, was also cancelled after a couple of months). By the time 60 returned to screens people had moved on, they’d forgotten and America’s Next Top Model was probably showing re-runs on channel three hundred. Of course, you might argue, quite rightly, that a show whose pilot episode set the tone by unapologetically baiting the Christian right and throwing none-too-subtle digs at TV network politics was damned from the outset, but you get the point.

The last 12 months have witnessed the demise of Day Break (Taye Diggs meets Groundhog Day), The Nine (Critically acclaimed bank heist flashback drama with Kim ‘Audrey from 24’ Raver), Smith (heist drama with Ray Liotta), Runaway (Donnie Wahlberg on the lam), Drive (Nathan FIllion – need I say more? – in Cannonball Run), Kidnapped (self-explanatory), Veronica Mars (excellent Nancy Drew-esque teen PI series), and Deadwood (whose cancellation is the strongest single argument for atheism I’ve heard) and many more. Don’t even get me started on some of the historical casualties like Firefly, Angel, Freaks and Geeks, Arrested Development, Sports Night, The Inside, Invasion or Family Guy – the last of which, at least, received a belated reprieve. All this in a world where Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda ran for five long years.

At this point (assuming you’re still with me) you may be thinking that this all sounds very much like a problem for the yanks. Well, think again. Yes, it would probably take the end of civilization (or the death of the entire cast, crew and writing staff in a freak yachting accident at the very least) for the bulk of our homegrown shows to face the chop - no matter how hideously unwatchable they might be. But what of our American imports? Consider this: When the US shows get cancelled, how do you think they turn its death rattle into a few more cents? By selling its corpse to us, that's how. So next time you tune in to watch the latest ‘hit’ American drama, I’d advise you to go online and make sure it wasn’t unfairly axed after just six episodes. Otherwise, when the voice after that cliffhanger intones the dreaded phrase ‘that was the last in the current series’, what it might actually be saying is ‘you will never, ever know how this ends!’

EregianPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 12:36
Solution! Shorter seasons, cheaper productions, no triple season long story arcs, brighter public.

As with most non commercial movies, they will rarely be succesful. Conclusion. Shows that divert from the norm will never reach an audience quick enough to make the studios prolong the series.

'Arthouse' films stories are finished once you watched them, if they don't make money, too bad. At least you know how the story ends. So you're better off with a nice little cult flick than another awesome series universe full with possibilities that will never come to be.

2

the ageless strangerPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 12:36
There is indeed no justice in the world. I was watching Studio 60 from the start, and although it wasn't as good as the West Wing, (they flogged many a storyline to death) it's a criminal wrong that it gets cancelled while other cack like ANY reality show is allowed to exist.

In fact, network bosses and the majority of American people shouldn't be allowed decide what gets put on American TV. That sounds good.

3

Ebow2007Posted on Monday August 13, 2007, 12:40
Um, if The Nine has been cancelled, why has it just started airing again in the US? Is it going to go the way of Jericho and tidy up the season before ending?

4

McQueenPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 12:41
The fact that currently the standard of writing for American TV is actually better than 90% of movies that are released makes the sudden axing of certain shows even more unbelievable.

Fair comment on most of the shows mentioned above although Firefly and Angel were not great, but the greatest loss is Huff (cancelled after 2 seasons) and Arrested Development - funnier than all the Frat Pack movies combined.

What is even more disturbing is that the likes of Heroes, CSI (pick any one) and 24 continue to be financed when they are big, lazy, dumb shrunk down movies. Having said that, they are still better than anything we have even produced in England which is unforgiveable.

5

TimonPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 12:47
Hey, we have SOME decent shows here. Like um.........

Erm.........

Spooks!

Um......

Erm.....

Doctor Who!

Um......

Primeval? Well I liked it.......

6

McQueenPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 13:17
Of the last 10 to 15 years there have been maybe 2 or 3 English produced shows that have been worthwhile - Cracker, Prime Suspect (at a push) and possibly Sex Traffic. Having said that we only produce one movie a year that is decent as well - the English don't do "entertainment" that well.

British comedy has always been fairly strong, but even that is on it's way down - The Office was superb, but even Ricky Gervais will tell you that without The Simpsons and Curb Your Enthusiasm he would not have a career. Extras was funny for one season and the 2nd was desperately poor. Spaced and all things Simon Pegg should not be labelled as "comedies" - I had a boil on my penis the other day and that was funnier than watching Shaun of the Dead/Spaced/Hot Fuzz.

All of this, of course, is of no relation to the article above - just fancied a rant.

7

rattlehead57Posted on Monday August 13, 2007, 13:23
I can't believe this... I've just started watching Studio 60 2 weeks ago, to find out (from this article) that it's been chopped. What a load of shit!

8

rosskiesPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 13:25
Freaks and Geeks was just wonderful, but it got shafted by the network and episodes were shown out of sequence, and the weekly timeslot was constantly shifted about from week-to-week. So they then wonder why the show isn't getting the viewing figures it deserves? Look at Only Fools and Horses, that show was into it's third series before the public truly caught on to it, and what happened? It grew into one of the best-loved shows in the UK's history.

As far as new US shows go, I think it's best to wait untill the third season has been greenlit before trying it out. Oh, and Tim Minear (Firefly, Drive) needs to take his next idea to ANYWHERE BUT FOX!!

9

cdjwfanPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 13:26
I completely agree. ALL reality shows are dire, as well as US number one shows like American Idol, which seems to just run together with the same people every season. Some of the popular drama shows that haven't been cancelled are running out of steam also, such as Lost and 24, and it's a mystery why they haven't been axed and great shows like Deadwood have. I have only one issue with any of the other comments; Heroes is the best show on TV. Period. The last thing it is is dumb or lazy. I don't know whether 'McQueen' has seen the whole season, but I can definitely say that it is the fastest, most intriguing and exciting show around.

10

AllanPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 13:27
In the main, the trouble with shows like Studio 60, Firefly and Arrested Development is that they demand an audience that sticks with it for a couple of episodes to get to know and understand the characters.

But in the multi-channel digital generation US audiences seemingly can't be bothered and just change over to watch the latest goings on with Britney Spears.

Plus aren't ratings becoming pointless when people are Ti-Vo-ing or Sky+'ing everything or just downloading entire seasons via torrent sites?

These shows do get seen, just not at the exact time of airing.

I've just watched the pilots for Pushing Daises and Reaper both are witty original comedy dramas. I'm already preparing myself for them to suffer the same fate as Wonderfalls and Drive.

A good portion of my DVD collection is becoming a shrine to cancelled before their time TV shows.

But I will also defend shows like Heroes and CSI Vegas because they are quality TV in world filled with reality dross.

11

Charlie1234Posted on Monday August 13, 2007, 13:45
Two words: The Wire. It gets about 10 viewers a year but somehow HBO have had the stones to keep going with probably the finest TV series ever made, and I'm not exagerating! No chance of it getting picked up by terrestial TV here now that Channel 4 have sold their souls to Big Brother, but if you've got FX watch it!

12

witherseaPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 13:46
Studio 60 (and Deadwood, and probably many more of the titles mentioned above) certainly didn't deserve the treatment they received at the hands of the networks. [Yes, I know Deadwood is HBO.] But at least we in the UK were allowed to see the whole run of Kidnapped, which I thought was pretty darned good. In its home country, they aired about half of it before yanking it - yes, pun fully intended - and, as far as I know, the rest of the episodes have never been aired in the States.

13

witherseaPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 14:03
On the subject of UK programs, most of them are dreck that should never have been given the green light. Scanning through this week's TV, here's what I could see, in terms of homegrown fiction: Hustle, Spooks, Doc Martin, Heartbeat, Hyperdrive, Life on Mars, Waking the Dead, Drop Dead Gorgeous, The IT Crowd, Midsomer Murders, Taggart, Lewis. There's not a single title there that I'd want in my DVD collection. Some of them I'd rather burn the negatives than have them aired for the rest of eternity on UKTV Grot.

Occasionally we get something to shout about - Shameless, Cracker, Morse, Doctor Who, Skins, Ab Fab, Spaced, The Office. It's not that we can't make good shows, but the Yanks have more networks and more moolah, and that's the bottom line. Throw enough stuff at the wall and something's gonna stick. For every Heroes, The Wire and the like, there's a whole heap of similarly quality shows that stall out of the gate and unfortunately, even more that are steaming pants and yet survive

14

RipperPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 14:21
At the end of the day, 90% of all great shows inevitably will not get past their first season, due to the aforementioned lack of marketability, but what we will still have is a few great episodes of a show, rather than multiple seasons of mediocre ones, and the one ray of light that is the fact that some shows, such as The West Wing, do run for many years, showing that one or two shows will be both acclaimed by critics and audience alike, whilst also being financially viable for studios to produce.

15

ArjunthejediPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 15:31
An example is Firefly, that was great, and what did fox do, cancel it. But hey they made it into a movie, called Serenity!

16

Greg AndrewPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 15:33
This is very sad. Had seen a couple of clips online and was really looking forward to it. haven't missed and episode yet on More4 (and have been known to catch the reapeats) and i think this is one of the greatest show to come out of america for ages. Maybe a Family Guy stylee turn around might happen but the people the show attacks are the people how finance the networks so maybe not.

And as for British stuff i think we have some great stuff, all be it in smaller doses than the states but that just a money thing. My favourite at the moment is The Thick of It, which i think is just as good as Studio 60 if not better.

17

britesparcPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 15:50
I think the cable channels, eg HBO/Showcase, probably have an easier time than the networks, because they're getting money from subscribers, and don't have to kowtow to the shareholders/disgruntled execs/Christian Right (or, at least, it's not quite as big an issue as for the networks). That's why they swear in Sopranos and Deadwood, and why, I imagine, they can stick with a slow-burning series like The Wire. Ironically, one of the failings of Studio 60, is that it can't be as daring as it wants to be, because it has to kowtow to a network, too: I think it'd be even better if it was an HBO show. Maybe that's the future - stick everything on cable, be content with smaller audiences building into bigger ones!

The other irony is if a show isn't too short (Firefly, Futurama, Studio 60, Deadwood) it's too long (X-Files is the best example, but even West Wing went off the boil a bit after Sorkin left - it was never the same when CJ became Chief of Staff). Shorter, ruder shows: result!

18

kachna_ffPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 16:17
It's all true.

I was watching Invasion religiously, in my humble opinion it beats other mystery twister like Lost (the most boring thing EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!) by a mile. It finished in a massive cliff-hanger and I will never know. It makes my existence almost unbearable. :'(

And I absolutely love Studio 60, it's the best thing on TV in a long long time. It's just so great, such a treat for a TV maddie like me. And it physically hurts to think that I can only ever enjoy 18 episodes.

But what can I or anyone else do? Let's face it, we all but little specks of dust, nor bearing any importance. Nobody cares what we do or think. So we just have to live with the fact all the shows we love will be cancelled and enjoy them while we can!

19

duckiebradshawPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 16:53
The networks in the US limit their shows a hell of a lot. Look at 'Supernatural', a highly underrated US show which had a great premise and excellent acting (it centered around 2 ghosthunting brothers road tripping round America - it sounds stupid but give it a chance), but has now adhered to their network's demand that they bring in 2 female characters. I wonder why. And it was very close to cancellation too, as the network executive appaprently didn't 'get' the show, and preferred America's Next Top Model. It's sad that so many of these excellent US shows are shunted over to the side to make place for high rated rubbish like Grey's anatomy and Lost. Give me Studio 60 or Supernatural any day.

20

matthewforanPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 16:59
I love Studio 60 it is criminal that it's been cancelled after only one season Matt Perry was finally shaking off his Friends tag and his chemistry with Whitford is superb. Amanda Peet is also fantastic in this show as is the rest of the support cast. Firefly is another show that I love and can't handle the fact it has less than half a season. DAMN YOU FOX!

All of this is made even worse by the fact that so much crap is on TV in America surely someone should be able to bring these shows back.

21

adamharveyPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 17:46
Shows like 24 and Lost survive because they tend to be shown straight through, starting in January. Other shows (Studio 60 being one of them) only show a short run of new episodes (starting in ‘the Fall’) before repeating them immediately and waiting until February to carry the story on.CBS and NBC seem to have no real clue how to deal with this new idea of serialization - y'know for people with attention spans longer than the average football match - so by the time they get round to broadcasting a new episode, usually in time for ‘the sweeps’ (the all important couple of weeks when ratings are king), a good proportion of the audience has forgotten about the storyline/cliffhanger they were waiting to be resolved - and even if they can remember have no idea why they cared in the first place. Besides which, the ‘mid-season replacement’ is so much cooler (until it goes on hiatus).

22

gegsuranusPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 18:45
Nathan Fillion - You need not say anymore. Almost all my favourite tv series are mentioned in this blog. Firefly, Angel, Deadwood, Freaks and Geeks, Veronica Mars, Studio 60 (Occasionally groan-inducing, but very much better than most crap). Someone mentioned The Wire, which I have only just discovered, and now am led to believe that the fifth season will be the last. I don't think I will watch television anymore, it's just too painful.I think studios should put up entire seasons on the internet for legal downloading, these shows might have the time to find an audience.

23

gegsuranusPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 18:53
Also Veronica Mars was painful, because they kept to-ing and fro-ing about whether they were going to cancel. Season 3 was terrible because they stopped doing one long arc and started doing stand-alone's and other such silly things in order to please the studio. The minute they knew the show was cancelled, the quality went right back to form. It strikes me that it is slightly ridiculous that Film is probably the safest bet to do long story arcs, what with sequels being so popular, and television execs would prefer stand-alone episodes so that audiences could dip in and out without fully committing.

24

martinblankPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 20:00
The single greatest cancelled-too-soon American show was Fastlane. End of story, fools!

25

kellymburgessPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 20:52
Cancellation of some quality television happens so often that whenever we dare to watch something new, the comment always arises, "They'll probably just cancel it, so why bother?" As a result of this attitude, having been burned so many times, I am now having to watch Heroes re-runs and completely missed the first outings of shows like Weeds, My Name is Earl among others. I am still waiting for the day that they ruin everything for me and cancel Battlestar Galactica which is the best show on TV. If that day comes, I may have to cancel my satellite subscription and put my TV into storage.

26

Chris HewittPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 21:15
I'm sorry, I can't let a blog thread like this go without mentioning the late, lamented and sorely missed The Tick, which was cancelled after just nine hilarious episodes and which gave us Patrick Warburton's finest (run of half) hours. Fox have got some series right - The Simpsons, The X-Files (seasons 1-4, anyway), but that merely recalls that old saying about a thousand monkeys, a thousand typewriters and the complete works of Shakespeare.

Now Helen, give me back my DVD!!!

27

Tony SopranoPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 21:40
Its a shame but thats the way America works if no one watches it it will get cancelled it's a travesty that more people will watch Will and Grace more than deadwood but at least they watched the sopranos and that wasn't cancelled too earley

28

Tony SopranoPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 21:47
and why can't sky get hbo it is the best tv channel out there the list of there shows is outstanding .The Sopranos.Curb Your Enthusiasm.Entourage.Big Love.The Wire.Rome.Deadwood.Sex And The City.Six Feet Under.Carnivale.Oz. surely that is worthy of sky

29

EthanialPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 22:36
I don't see a mention of Futurama in that long list.Especially with Family Guy stil up there, after it's steadilly horrendous decline, almost as amazing as the season 11-12 downfall of the Simpsons.After Firefly, Futurama and Arrested Development were lopped off i was foolish to put hopes in Fox's Drive, and was heartbroken yet again not only by the cancellation, after only airing 4 eps, the constant delay of the final two eps, the completely cliffhanging end, everything.Fox should not be allowed to axe shows unless they get no ratings at all.

30

clownfootPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 23:01
Farscape? (sniff). That is all.

31

giddigPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 23:20
Firefly was indeed ace. Also thought Enterprise was the best Trek incarnation I had come across, four series is hardly premature but the wrap up was a tad rushed.

Dark Angel was great, well, the first series was. Although having typed that the second series did kind of spoil it. I mean what were they thinking with that half dog Joshua character and the WWF/WWE finale.

32

NickNackPosted on Monday August 13, 2007, 23:31
The fact that quality US Drama like Studio 60 is getting axed so quickly is a piss take. We'd kill for something as good as that in England, where all we can look forward to on TV is Big Brother. The writing in American television is great and i'd love to see the likes of Freaks and Geeks on our TV's. Thank God they haven't axed Entourage yet.

Firstly though, i'd like to see better British drama - the best ones i have seen in the last 5 years have been Shameless and Life On Mars - shows are unashamedly british and have top class writing. Just please, please no more Skins....

33

James DyerPosted on Tuesday August 14, 2007, 09:09
Sorry kellymburgess the thrid season of Battlestar is indeed going to be the last. Steady now, back away from the knife.

And to whoever mentioned The Wire, I agree entirely. Since The West Wing left our screens, The Wire has replaced it in my affections as the best show on television.

34

claireangelaPosted on Tuesday August 14, 2007, 09:54
One show that isn't mentioned is the little known Joan of Arcadia. it got cancelled after two seasons as only a few people were still watching it. in fact, its viewing figures were averaging at 14 million a week!

The one thing i dont get is the cancelling of shows mid season. why not round it off rather than suddenly dropping it and showing crappy re-runs.

i am a massive fan of the west wing and sports night, so was looking forward to Studio 60 (another aaron sorkin programme). however studio 60 is smart, funny and not written down to its audience - its no wonder it was cancelled in a country where there are more votes in american idol rather than the presidential elections.

35

the_edge99ukPosted on Tuesday August 14, 2007, 09:54
James, where have you got that information from, Battlestar has a 4th season starting soon (in the US) and also a mini-series/feature length episode called Razor, coming out after the season finishes.

36

jcallanPosted on Tuesday August 14, 2007, 10:15
Twin Peaks, the best show ever was cancelled. How did this fail to get mentioned ?

37

AboyNamedSuePosted on Tuesday August 14, 2007, 10:39
Loved Studio 60 - really pissed me off that it was cancelled. Further proof that yanks are thick as shit.

38

Ebow2007Posted on Tuesday August 14, 2007, 10:45
Just to clarify on the BSG stuff:

Season 4 will be the last. This season airs in the US in (mainly) 2008.

In November 2007 a feature length "episode" will air, the first two episodes of Season 4, back to back.

Would be cool to have Dirk Benedict as President of whichever planet they may end up on ;)

39

EduardoBiancoPosted on Tuesday August 14, 2007, 12:21
The fact that Drive was cancelled after just 4 episodes is a perfect example of how quick the networks are to drop the axe. It was starting to show promise and although may not have had longevity, could have provided a decent season. Recently, Traveller has been axed (as is my understanding) and although it also may not have had longevity, it was enjoyable and had enough action/suspense/twists to rival the likes of 24 and Prison Break, the latter of which has replaced it's intelligence and originality with complete garbage.

Good luck Bionic Woman is all I can say!

40

James DyerPosted on Tuesday August 14, 2007, 13:53
Did I say 3? Sorry, I meant 4. Just to clarify: the next (FOURTH) season of Battlestar Galactica will, in fact, be the last one. Please don't panic unduly.

41

MikeparkPosted on Tuesday August 14, 2007, 14:04
Lets get something straight about Battlestar Galactica - "Razor" is a tv movie set on the Battleship Pegasus, and is completely separate to Season 4. There. said it. On with the rest...

I remember Adrian Pasdar (so good in Heroes) starring in a very dark and twisted series called Profit, in which he was a junior exec determined to destroy the conglomerate he worked for from within, for some past misdeed to his family. Unsurprisingly perhaps it was cut short.

My guilty pleasure - Blade the tv series developed a rather good universe for it's characters and unfortunately was left hanging at the end of the first and only seaso

42

sadq85Posted on Tuesday August 14, 2007, 14:36
I love Aaron Sorkin's stuff, I was a huge fan of West wing and love Studio 60. It is still on here in SA, but it is almost done. I cant believe that the networks would cancel such a great and interesting show just because they want to bring in another reality TV show, arent there already enough of those?

43

the ageless strangerPosted on Tuesday August 14, 2007, 15:23
I don't think "Razor" is completely seperate to the 4th series of BSG, I've seen previews of it on Youtube, and besides the Pegasus crew who showed up in previous episodes, the regular Galactica crew are there too.

And I'm pretty sure the creators said it would have some connections to the new series. I think it'll be a mix of flashback and current storyline.

Luckily, BSG seems to be one that just barely missed the blade. I was damn nervous around mid-season 3 when all the network reports were coming out saying they were just about to cancel it. At least now they get to end it their way.

44

Charlie1234Posted on Tuesday August 14, 2007, 15:58
"Someone mentioned The Wire, which I have only just discovered, and now am led to believe that the fifth season will be the last. "

Greg, don't despair it's all planned, David Simon has always said 5 series was all he wanted and they're going to go out on top, unlike some other shows the X-Files anyone, but then I guess that's for another blog..............

45

MoosedogPosted on Tuesday August 14, 2007, 17:08
We do do some good TV in good old blighty.... I know some people would disagree but 'Waking the Dead' and 'Life on Mars' are both superb shows. We have Tony Jordan's upcoming shows 'Echo Beach' and a show that is about the making of 'Echo Beach' called 'Moving Wallpaper' (which i think is a very clever premise).... so we can do good TV, and the difference is, we are able to give shows like these a chance, even something as bad as 'Eldorado' in the 90's was given a fighting chance before even the BBC realised it was crap. I am loving 'Studio 60' even though i know i will never see more than 18 episodes.... but i would rather watch those 18 episodes than having to put up with more pointless TV drivel... big brother, x-factor..etc....

46

MacscapePosted on Tuesday August 14, 2007, 17:44
...cancelling Farscape after four seasons, when everyone knew it just needed one more, was the worst television decision IMO (shame on you Sci-Fi!)! We got Peacekeeper Wars, but its just not the same as a full season...

...cancelling Firefly is a close second. The sales of the DVD set and the acclaim for the feature film Serenity should have justified a return (at least to complete a full season one!)...

...apparently Farscape is making a return in 10 Webisodes...a step towards a new full season (at least!)?...I hope so!...

47

James DyerPosted on Tuesday August 14, 2007, 18:01
I was a huge Farscape fan back in the day (yes, I know it has muppets but you get used to them). Truth be told though I think it lost its way in Season 4 when they tried to open up the show to new audiences (a necessary decision in the face of imminent cancellation, I appreciate, but still...). It lost some of the magic there and some of their existing fans so I wasn't at all surprised when they pulled the plug. That didn't make it any less gutting though. Peacekeeper Wars was a pleasant surprise though as It's not often a cancelled show gets the chance to tie up the loose ends, long after all the sets have been dismantled.

Of course, every time a show is cancelled there are a thousand online petitions which amount to nought but it's not all hopeless. I don't know how many of you heard what happened to Jericho but fans bombarded the network with bags of nuts after its cancellation and, as a result, it's been renewed to finish the story arc. Power to the people and all that.

48

Martin BlankPosted on Tuesday August 14, 2007, 19:28
"I don't think "Razor" is completely seperate to the 4th series of BSG, I've seen previews of it on Youtube, and besides the Pegasus crew who showed up in previous episodes, the regular Galactica crew are there too.."

Razor is set between the start of the Cylon attack, and the reunion with Galatica... It would be kinda hard for Pegasus to be part of Season 4 as it was last seen in millions of pieces over New Caprica....

Tony SopranoPosted on Tuesday August 14, 2007, 20:49
Can anyone tell me why the wire isn't on channel 4 or 5 it is a brilliant show and should be out there for people who don't have sky to watch and thank god HBO has kept it going it's good that there a channel that supports good tv shows

50

Tony SopranoPosted on Tuesday August 14, 2007, 21:07
for any Deadwood fans out there it might be brought back rumours have started because david milch creator of deadwood his new programe John from cincanati (i am not a good speller)hasn't been renewed and some Hbo Excs don't think a tv movie would end it right so fingers crossed Hbo is brought back for a fourth serious to end it right

51

gordon_m_bPosted on Tuesday August 14, 2007, 21:49
can u do us all a favour and forward this article to all the us tv networks, its excellent, i have recently felt let down by them because Studio 60, a fantastic show by a brilliant writer, i was so annoyed to find out it had been cancelled, at least the got it right with the west wing!

52

SamboraPosted on Tuesday August 14, 2007, 23:59
Studio 60 was cancelled not because it was outstandingly good, but because it was smugness personified and nothing like as clever as it thought it was.

The first episode was about the most hyped TV series opener ever and got large viewing figures. Did these people disappear to spite all educated TV viewers? Eh, no. They stopped because the set of Studio 60 is not important enough a situation to make all the hullabaloo acceptable. The characters are crushingly unoriginal West Wing transfers and Sorkin's trademark snappy dialogue grates as he implies the writers on a SNL type show are all incredibly well read, politically savvy, religion attuned geniuses. Yawn.

The Wire is on season 5 despite NEVER getting large viewing figures. So why is it still on? Because it's original, human, unpredictable, relevant and realistic, and viewers (plus DVD buyers) will always back such passionate creativity. The Studio 60 audience saw lazy, cynical execs at work and voted thumbs down.

53

Tony SopranoPosted on Wednesday August 15, 2007, 01:23
it was cancelled because no one watched it if no one watches it they cancel it and if people watched it it gets squeezed dry (Lost)the wire is lucky because its a subscribe channel that doesn't need to rely on advertising money

54

peterelsonPosted on Wednesday August 15, 2007, 08:00
I know it doesn't strictly fall into this category, but I miss Futurama. Why can't Fox put some money Matt Groening's way to make a film of that ?

55

gegsuranusPosted on Wednesday August 15, 2007, 09:35
"One show that isn't mentioned is the little known Joan of Arcadia. it got cancelled after two seasons as only a few people were still watching it. "I thought the first season was good, but the second not so good, although it did start to get interesting towards the end with the introduction of Wentworth Miller's character. Although having seen him act in Prison Break they may have been a good thing.A great show quite similar to Joan of Arcadia, but much much better and with the greatest man ever - Mandy Patinkin- which was also cancelled too soon was Dead Like Me.To Sambora's post on Studio 60, yes it does occasionally fall into cliche, it still is well acted and funny, and has a certain charm about it which made for enjoyable viewing, whilst at the same time not being completely devoid of wit and intellect. As I have said before, much better than most crap on tv.

56

Tony SopranoPosted on Wednesday August 15, 2007, 10:20
btw if you paid attention to comic con you would have heard that futurama is bieng brought back for movies or tv i am not sure but its defo being brought back due to popular demand and dvd sales although i don't know why cause i don't really think it's funny

57

pottynoodlesPosted on Wednesday August 15, 2007, 10:27
"Studio 60 was cancelled not because it was outstandingly good, but because it was smugness personified and nothing like as clever as it thought it was. "

I totally agree Sambora. Studio 60 was shown in its entirety here in Ireland and no-one watched it! I was a huge fan of the West Wing and was really looking forward to this but I couldn't even make it past the first episode. All the characters and plotlines were clearly just ways for Sorkin to make unsubtle digs and rant at American networks and viewing public, which is hardly clever seeing as it was on network television. The cast were mostly great but had very thin material - even if it was renewed I doubt if Sorkin/Schlamme could have stretched it another series. No one wants a sermon on how crap and stupid we are as viewers - that's what blogs are for

58

BlunderbussPosted on Wednesday August 15, 2007, 11:31
Although I hate to admit it I can see why Studio 60 got canned. As much I have enjoyed the first two eps. the whole concept behind the show is flawed...despite its great cast, fantastic production values and at times brilliant script, the setting smacks of self-satisfied, narrow, navel gazing.

With the West Wing there was a sense of the setting being a.) an important place where important decisions were taken and b.) somewhere audiences were curious to visit (even if it wasn't an accurate portrait of the place). Studio 60 doesn't have either of these selling points. It just looks like a bunch of smug Hollywood-types saying to the world 'hey, look how wonderful, intelligent, liberal, witty, beautiful and rich we all are', which was never going to appeal to a wide demographic, no matter what other messages it was trying to get across.

59

BlunderbussPosted on Wednesday August 15, 2007, 12:11
On a wider point, the whole 'mid-season' hiatus thing in the US which has been blamed for some good shows losing momentum and audience share is a direct result of economics of US network TV.

The way it works is this:Before the beginning of every 'season' (from Sept to May) the Networks (CBS, NBC, ABC & Fox) place orders for the dramatic series they will be airing. Some of these will be new seasons of existing shows like House or CSI. Some however, will be new shows based on pilot episodes already filmed, focus grouped but not aired.

Shows with guaranteed audiences (like CSI or House) will get full season orders of 24 to 26 episodes and will go ahead and start filming all of them. New shows or returning ones which were borderline for renewal due to low ratings will usually only get half-season orders (usually 13 episodes). That way the networks aren't spending too much money on up front production costs on a show that might flop.

(more)

60

BlunderbussPosted on Wednesday August 15, 2007, 12:24
(Cont)

The problem for Networks comes when a new show is a huge success (or a previously low rating show suddenly finds its audience). When a half season order is expanded to a full season one, the show producers suddenly have to create another 12 or 12 eps to expand the season out, as well as completing production on the eps covered by the initial half-season order. In these circumstances there is not enough time available to do all this so the Networks put the show on hiatus. The eps originally ordered are completed and aired and then the show takes a two or three month break to allow the second half of the season to be produced.

Unfortunately this often results in audiences not coming back when the series returns because they've lost interest, its shown at a new time or on a new day that is less appealing or clashes with something else or some other show has caught the cultural zeitgeist.

(Cont)

61

BlunderbussPosted on Wednesday August 15, 2007, 12:30
The mid-season hiatus has also started to become common even on long running shows. Partly this is because it allows Networks to put on seasonal programming around Thanksgiving and Christmas without bumping popular shows. More importantly however, its so that competing Networks can put their proven shows up against popular new shows in a direct ratings battle. So for example, Fox might hold back the second half of 24's latest season until after the mid-season hiatus so it can go up against whatever show on NBC has been getting big ratings.

What all this has done is effectively create two 'seasons' on US TV each year; one between September and November and one between January and May. In the UK we might think us shows have long seasons compared to UK ones (24 eps compared to 12 or 13). In reality a 24 ep US 'season' is more like two 12 ep seasons linked by a common story arc.

Hope that explains it. Don't get me started on mid-season or off-season shows....

62

spclark14Posted on Wednesday August 15, 2007, 12:48
Now that Studio 60 has bitten the dust, why don't Warner Bros entice Sorkin and Schlamme back to write The West Wing: The Santos Administration? Er, probably because it would be shit. Bad idea, forget I said anything! Hopefully Kenneth Johnson will take that advice and scrap 'V: The Second Generation'!

63

spotless mindPosted on Wednesday August 15, 2007, 16:01
The most annoying part is not that shows get cancelled, it's that UK channels buy shows that they know have been cancelled mid season, Such as 'Smith' which only had 8 episodes and was then stopped, with no one saying why, leaving me to find out via the internet. It would be nice to be told that a show has been cancelled prior to it's airing, or don't show it at all!

64

axemanPosted on Wednesday August 15, 2007, 16:41
Have to agree with the sentiments in general posted here, and the article itself which was excellent. Its a shame that now the Americans have finally learned how to produce top TV drama, they go and spoil it all by cancelling such great shows. I have to echo the thoughts of McQueen, and say I think the axing of HUff aftre just two seasons was criminal - A great series, with intelligence, humour, and drama in spades, and it was never given a chance.

All this just goes to show that there is no common sense behind these decisions, which are often made when series are consistently popular, both critically and more importantly in terms of viewers.

If only the Studio Execs had taste.......

65

BlunderbussPosted on Wednesday August 15, 2007, 18:05
Wierd thing is that some of the best US shows out there come out of left field, start off so low key that they are invisible and then before you know it they have built up decent audiences and critical kudos.

I'm thinking here of (A Town Called) Eureka, which airs on Sky One. This was a summer show on Sci Fi in the US last year that somehow managed to survive getting a small but loyal audience in the TV off-season and got renewed. Weird without being Twin Peaks-crazy, funny & clever it got generally positive reviews first time out. The second season has just airing in the US to even better critical reaction, with the show apparently finding its stride narrative wise and picking up a larger audience share...

Shows that sometimes it pays not to over-hype (or hype at all) a show and to just let it grow organically, letting it stand or fall on the basis of quality...

66

Tony SopranoPosted on Wednesday August 15, 2007, 19:19
studio got canned because no one watched it simple as

67

EDKSMSPosted on Thursday August 16, 2007, 00:47
I think the UK can produce some great shows with more wit and ingenius then most of the programmes on US tv. Most shows in America that have gone past the 3 season stage are, not only lucky but, are getting boring and not staying true to what they used to be. Shows will never be what they used to be. There is no such thing as oringinality now. Everything is a copy of something and maybe people just aren't buying into it anymore. There are at least four shows US networks have piloted based on shows in the UK. I know we've ripped off some of their shows, but that's the point. I watched an episode of Dirt today which was exactly like an episode of Ugly Betty (office worker sleeps with underage teen, teen wants cover of mag, mag finds out teen is actually legal). Now I don't know which came first, but it probably wasn't either of them. T.V is dead.

68

AndyKirkPosted on Thursday August 16, 2007, 10:50
Perhaps, as The Sunday Times suggested earlier this year, it's time for TV prgrammes to go 'straight to DVD'.

Rather than the ignominious fate this label has for movies it could be the saviour of television programmes. Without the sales of Firefly on DVD, there would never have been Serenity and it was only the sales of Family Guy on DVD that led to its reprieve.

Also (and this is for those poeple without the stamina to get into the brilliance of programmes like Heroes) watching a series on DVD allows you to develop that bond with the show far quicker.

I'll admit that, having seen a couple of episodes of Firefly, when I had to chase it around the BBC 2 schedule, I was distinctly unimpressed. However I saw Serenity on Empire's urging, loved it, went out and bought the Firefly boxset and fell in love with it in two consecutive uninterrupted episodes.

I say let the idiots have television with their Big Brothers and X Factors. I'll quite happily buy a well-reviewed series on DVD and enjoy it, sans ad breaks, at my own leisure.

69

peeka85Posted on Thursday August 16, 2007, 11:03
Finally, someone has said this! I couldn't agree with you more, you've listed all my favourite TV shows and they've all been cancelled. What is wrong with people?! Firefly was the best Sci Fi show in years and it got so many non sci fi geeks watching it. Yet because Fox are so stupid, they didn't understand it and cancelled it.

70

Charlie1234Posted on Thursday August 16, 2007, 12:11
I completely agree with AndyKirk I never watch a show I like the look of on TV, I'll always wait for the DVD, I've just watched the first series of Supernaural, and am now going through Bones. It's the ridiculous amount of advert breaks for on thing, like nearly 20 minutes out of a one hour show!! Plus watching 24 on a weekly basis, impossible!! Of course I realise that if everyone did this no show would last beyond it's pilot which is why I'm amazed that studios don't go for the DVD sales as a way to make back their cash, you can't tell me that they didn't make back what they spent on Firefly through DVD sales?!

71

James1235Posted on Thursday August 16, 2007, 12:21
I wholeheartedly agree with this argument!Some of the greatest television experiences of my life have disappeared before they had time to fully develop! My main two arguments at least showed some after life by having their own spin off movies to help give some closure and revitalise characters that only TV can allow!

Both Firefly (which allowed a non Sci Fi geek like myself to watch blissfully without guilt) and Twin Peaks (whose story was never irritatingly concluded) were cancelled despite everyone raving about it!

The only studio I can think of that deserves enormous plaudits is HBO for their treatment of The Wire. Despite never having any TV audience to speak of the show has continued on bravely making it one of the best shows of all time!

Aside from this, Studio 60 needs to be put back on the air!

72

Eomer_KingPosted on Thursday August 16, 2007, 14:44
I watched all of Studio 60 from downloads and it really is a superb show. While some of it grates a little, the overall quality is fantastic. The cancellation of this and the equally impressive The Black Donnellys is a puzzling, irritating decision by NBC.

73

Tony SopranoPosted on Thursday August 16, 2007, 22:32
i prefer watching it on tv because when the episode ends i can't wait for the next one and it gets me all excited dvd are good to go back and watch something like Band of Brothers thats a great show for dvd

74

neilonePosted on Friday August 17, 2007, 17:56
Since TV is global now, I think the executives should look at ratings in each market (USA, UK, itunes. etc) and see how popular the shows are there too.

Then perhaps they could ask for money off the likes of Sky for joint productions - such as BBC/HBO for Rome.

I was gutted when they cancelled Deadwood - The Sopranos was a choice by the producers themselves - Stargate SG1 probably should have ended after series 8, but the story arc wasn't finished - there is talk that Atlantis may be on it's last season.

Carnivale was another great show.

The sad fact is that we're gonna get glimpses of these great shows and then some nervy network executive is gonna pull the plug before he is replaced by someone else who has the latest America Can Dance XXX Blah Blah Blah.

Who knows, maybe the future of these great shows is independent broadcasts on subscription internet channels?

75

gegsuranusPosted on Friday August 17, 2007, 18:54
Life On Mars is being remade for US tv with Colm Meaney as Gene Hunt and Jason O'Mara as Sam Tyler. While I have nothing but love for Chief O'Brien, I do have one question. Why? How is it possible that the US market needs these shows to be remade, when if they liked the show that much in the first place, wouldn't it make sense just to show it as it is. I am thoroughly looking forward to Ashes to Ashes, and expect to hear very soon that the remake is not as good as the original.

76

SubtleWandererPosted on Friday August 17, 2007, 18:55
The biggest problem with Studio 60 was that the whole premise hinged on believing that Perry and Whitcroft's characters were brilliant at their jobs. Unfortunately, the sketches they showed simply weren't funny. Sorkin might be able to do drama but he's certainly not a comedian.

With all the big name actors and producers involved it was hugely expensive to make. The studio isn't going to keep sinking the money into it if people aren't watching.

77

Movie MogulPosted on Friday August 17, 2007, 19:47
If you move a TV show around in the listings and switch the days you show it on, then of course it's gonna fail. It's not rocket science - it's bloody obvious. Firefly is the perfect example. The episodes were shown on about three different nights of the week - changing night more or less every week - and the eps weren't even shown in the right order. For crying out loud! No TV show stands a chance when you show the season opener four or five episodes into the run and start with an ep that has "more action" and so might retain the attention of pea-brained America.

But what's annoying about this, and what has hopefully annoyed any American who has read what I've just written, is that America, on the whole, ISN'T pea-brained at all. They can handle intelligent shows: The West Wing, Six Feet Under, Frasier, Curb Your Enthusiasm...So why do people assume that an audience isn't going to get it?

All of these shows suffered from a sudden cancellation: Angel (luckily they had enough time to come up with a truly awesome "fuck you" of an ending), Tru Calling (cancelled after one season, then brought back...for SIX EPISODES before being cancelled again! It was just getting going), Deadwood (genius, but not exactly smothered), Wonderfalls (so-so fun with potential), Firefly (genius), Studio 60 (I'm apoplectic at that one - they put it on after 2 hours of very popular TV, so everyone switched off. Even I struggle to sit through 3 straight hours of tele), Commander in Chief (OK, so not high art but still fun).

And yet some things go on. And on. And on. And on. And on. And-- Well, you get the picture. How many series' of the various CSI's have there been? And The Simpsons. And E-friggin'-R. I'm sure these shows are great (I've never really got into them) but what makes them so different? I know it's down to viewing figures, but I've got to wonder if there's any correlation between how the networks treat the shows - what times/days they put them on the box - and how they do.

78

Marty5Posted on Friday August 17, 2007, 20:32
I totally agree with this blog, ive just recently started watching studio 60 and i am really enjoying it. The acting is great and its very funny aswell. But this comes as no surprise that it is cancelled, we live in a topsy turvy world and to be honest i dont blame the networks i blame the viewers. Really bad shows like big brother, love island and all the celebrity dancing shows are ruining tv. Theres no room for good drama anymore, all people wanna see is there z-list celebrity do something stupid on tv. Then there is shows like charmed and andromeda that only god knows why they lasted so long, like come on, how can charmed last for 8 whole seasons, it was terrible. Then ace shows like Firefly and my personal favourite Angel get cancelled, but at least angel got 5 seasons before the chop, poor firefly only got 1/ 2 a season when fox decided to cancel. Its gonna get to the point when no-one wants to get too interested in a tv show incase it doesnt last beyond its first run.

79

Tony SopranoPosted on Friday August 17, 2007, 22:21
Deadwood might be brought back Milch is considering it because he's got nothing to do just now

80

BethN21286Posted on Friday August 17, 2007, 23:31
What can you say: American executives are morons who probably don't even own TVs, let alone watch any of the stuff they (partially) run.All I can hope is in the future Tv via the internet gets bigger than TV via the TV then maybe we'll actually get to see the end of a first episode before the season is cancelled. If they actually stopped to smell the roses(firefly, deadwood, Studio 60) then maybe they wouldn't need to invest $10million in new pilots every thirty seconds.Unfortunately we in the UK are really big on the new projects and new writing talent either, the BBC would currently prefer to waste £2million on the christmas Only fools and horses rather than invest in new talent on a smaller budget. Seriously, is it too much to ask they risk a bit of cash on finding people to pick up the torch when the likes of Stephen Moffat(Life on Mars, Jekyll) and Tony Jordan(Hustle, please forgive him for eastenders) eventually give up? As for ITV could someone point out to them that taking a script for Blue Murder and changing the names does not constitute a New Drama. Invest in something innovative for a change, god knows they subject us to enough adverts to pay for it.

81

ebrown2112Posted on Saturday August 18, 2007, 00:25
The brilliant" Carnivàle" was cancelled 2 seasons into a 6 season arc. There is a faint glimmer of hope seeing it in another format someday.

82

rozicollierPosted on Saturday August 18, 2007, 00:40
The day Veronica Mars was cancelled I died a bit inside. And after seeing one episode of Studio 60 I knew I would mourn it's cancellation with every episode I watched from then on. Damn you, various TV executives, and those at FOX in particular.

83

flashshirtPosted on Saturday August 18, 2007, 08:10
I remember just getting into Threshold, Invasion and Birds of Prey all good interesting American imports for us fantasy lovers only to find out that they were cancelled after one season. At least in Britain if a series is not so good they usually do a second one to wind things up nicely but all of the above mentioned series left us with cliffhangers that will never be answered. Yet unrelenting crap runs and runs think Murder She Wrote, The Love Boat (quick pass the sick bucket) although they were from the 70's and 80's. Oh The Suite Life of Zack and Cody from Disney which has to make the Chuckle Brothers seem like the funniest comedians on earth. Why can't someone like Sky, ITV or BBC step in and rescue the series which I believe has been done on at least two occasions. There are niche channels that these series can run on. Why even Robin Hood from the BBC is getting a second series despite getting medium audience ratings last year.

imperviousPosted on Saturday August 18, 2007, 22:21
I am SOOOOO disappointed by the cancellation of Studio 60. I do take the point make by others - that the subject matter simply couldn't provide the same gravitas as The West Wing, for example, but Aaron Sorkin is one of the best writers out there and it is very disappointing that he wasn't given time to develop the characters further. I think the show is a "slow-burner" and takes a bit to warm to but I am sure in time it would have been worthwhile.

The problem is that the studios seem to want instant gratification and to some extent, so do some audiences. But reading many of the other comments here, I am reassured that there are enough of us out there who appreciate something that challenges our intellect as well as being entertaining.

I also have to say, in defence of the UK - there are programmes shown here that I cannot see getting air time in the US. For example, QI and The Book Quiz. I'm sure they don't get a huge audience, but shows like this give me hope that all is not lost...Big Brother makes me lose the will to live...

There are some good dramas over here - no one has mentioned the wonderful Foyle's War. Is there anyone else out there who loves Michael Kitchen's fabulously understated performance? and what about all those great adaptations we've seen - Bleak House? Wives and Daughters? We want more good quality drama!

86

imperviousPosted on Saturday August 18, 2007, 22:25
By the way, I would just like to say YES, YES, YES to BethN21286. Couldn't agree more with the comment about Only Fools And Horses. ENough already!!! Have the courage to try something new instead of dragging that old nag out year after year.

87

Tony SopranoPosted on Sunday August 19, 2007, 02:47
There is hope it could be brought back if enough fans by the dvd and complain to the studio it has happened before( Family Guy )

88

janghokwonPosted on Sunday August 19, 2007, 09:19
well at least 'House MD' is surviving.

never to be resolved cliff-hangers have also happened in uk television. what happened to Rimmer in Red Dwarf after he kicked death in the balls?!!

89

KirraPosted on Sunday August 19, 2007, 10:42
I still can't believe that Studio 60 got cancelled. Well written, fantastic cast and such an amazingly great all-round piece of TV fab-ness. Clearly they needed their own Amanda Peet character arguing for them in the executive board room when some short-sighted TV exec made that decision. West Wing was a slow burner in terms of getting people interested... they cancelled Studio 60 waaay too soon in my opinion.Still hoping that somehow we might see it return...

90

Tony SopranoPosted on Sunday August 19, 2007, 14:31
Anyone know when the sopranos is back in the UK i have seen the advert but theres no date ?????

91

misterunlimitedPosted on Monday August 20, 2007, 21:31
I definitely agree with a lot of the above - stuff I miss: WONDERFALLS, JOAN OF ARCADIA, FIREFLY, EARLY EDITION - but there are three series I absolutely loved, and just can't stop watching my tapes of.

(3) BIRDS OF PREY - Dina Meyer as ex-Batgirl turned Oracle. The stunning Ashley Scott as the Huntress. And Black Canary makes three. An excellent female superhero series - easily the equal of unfairly maligned SMALLVILLE - so why cancel after just one season? It was great!

(2) FREAKYLINKS - Hilarious and exciting X-FILES meets PRESS GANG, the eminently watchable Ethan Embry headed up a great cast in this fun, fast-moving series about a guy running a website of the weird and freaky, called FREAKYLINKS, where every week is one of the stories the team uncover, investigate, and often solve, before writing it up on the site. Absolutely bloody brilliant. As much as I enjoy A TOWN CALLED EUREKA, why did THAT get renewed and not FREAKYLINKS? Grrr...

(1) GLOBAL FREQUENCY - Not so much a series as an as-yet-unscreened pilot, it's based on my favourite comic series EVER, by comics legend Warren Ellis, and managed to get to the core of the series in just one show! Michelle Forbes is absolutely inspired as Miranda Zero, Jenni Baird and Josh Hopkins do fine as the regulars, and Aimee Garcia nailed the character of Aleph. Not commissioning this series is one of the dumbest decisions in the history of TV - it would have been X-FILES-in-its-prime huge. There are some seriously dumb creatures running the American TV networks these days...

92

misterunlimitedPosted on Monday August 20, 2007, 21:37
To gregsuranus (re: Post 75) - Give it a chance. There's no way the LIFE ON MARS remake will equal the sublime original, but David E. Kelley is capable of greatness - just watch BOSTON LEGAL! Shatner's finest since his original Kirk days. That show makes me howl with laughter every episode.

Tony SopranoPosted on Sunday August 26, 2007, 22:08
it's 2nd of september on E4 at 10pm thats the 9 last episodes of the sopranos ever

95

Vader131Posted on Tuesday September 4, 2007, 14:04
I was gutted about Studio 60 was cancelled. However, what is really frustrating is when a cancelled series ends with a cliffhanger and is then cancelled, for example Invasion and the superb HBO show Carnivale. At least let them wrap up the storylines for the viewers who took time to watch them.

96

plum bobPosted on Tuesday September 4, 2007, 21:25
Its a huge shame about Studio 60 which is fantastic, here's to hopin that it doesn't end on a cliffhanger like Invasion or other shows.

97

AdultKidPosted on Thursday September 6, 2007, 19:26
What about Lexx?

Oh no, hold on, that actually was shit.

98

alimacPosted on Friday September 7, 2007, 01:02
i have to admit i wasn't botherd about Invasion i didn't really think it was that great Hope the wire doesn't get cancelled it's starting to replace the sheild as the best cop show out there

99

SinfonicPosted on Friday September 14, 2007, 13:15
Deadwood is one of the finest TV series ever. I love it.

Not really much else to add, or I may get a little emotional.

Ta ta.

100

alimacPosted on Tuesday September 18, 2007, 21:00
It could be brought back Milch latest Tv series was cancelled

101

KeldyPosted on Friday October 12, 2007, 04:56
Angel looked like it was dead on it's feet after Season 4 but then Season 5 was the best one of all...so they cancelled it. Doh!

102

ehemisgodPosted on Tuesday October 28, 2008, 04:01
i will never ever ever ever ever EVER get over Firefly being cancelled. ever...